Lock mechanism for sliding doors.



F. E. & C. P. HOWARD.

LOCK MECHANISM FDH sLlDlNG DooRs.

IIF 4 m P. HOWARD.

Y. E. 6L C.

LOCK MECHAMSM Foa SLIDING noos.

APPLICATION FILED 1\UG.2. IQIOy @mima .Patented Apr. 22, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

fw W.

F. E. @L C. P. Hovmfm.

LOCK MECHANISM EUR SLIDENG DOORS.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

atented Apr. 22, 1919.

UNTER@ @dlild FRANK E. HOWARD AND CHARLES P. HOWARD, OF HARTFORD,CONNECTICUT ASSIGNORS TO JAMES L. HOWARD & COMPANY, OF HARTFORD,CONNECTICUT,

A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

LOCK MECHANISM FOR SLIDIN G- DOORS.

Specification of Letters Patent. A Patented Apr. 22, T919.

Application iled August 2, 1910. Serial No. 575,116.

To all eoftom imag/'concern' Be 1t lrnown that we, FRANK E. HOWARD andCHARLES P. HOWARD, citizens of the United States, and residents ofHartford,

plied to the end doors of railway cars or coaches.

Figure 1 is an end view of such a car in reduced scale, showing inoutline the end of the car, and showing a sliding door partly openechwith one form of the lock mechanism of the present invention appliedthereto. Fig. 2 is an edge view in larger scale, of the loclr mechanism.Fig. 3 is a side view, partly in section, to expose the interiormechanism of the lock and latch mechanism of Fig. 2, the parts beingshown in their neutral or middle position, and showing also the twokeepers which coperate with the respective latches. Fig. 4L is a planview projected from Fig, 3, and shown partly in section taken on theline 4-l of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a side view showing a modified form of theinvention in which the latches are housed in separate casings disposedat the front and back ends, respectively, of the door. Figs. 6 to 9inclusive show modified features of the lock mechanism. Fig. 6 is a sideview, and Fig. 7 an edge view projected therefrom, of a modified form ofthe invention, in which one of the latches is disposed upon the outerside of the door, and in which the operating handle is held in either oftwo different positions. Fig. 8 is a plan view of a portion of what isshown in Figs. 6 and 7 particularly the portions thereof adapted for therearward latching of the door. Fig. 9 is a side view partly in section,showing the interior latch mechanism of a mortised lock frame moreespeciallv adapted for use in connection with wooden doors. Fig. 10 is aside view partly in section, showing a modified form of the keeper ofFigs. 3 and 4.

The cars for which the embodiment of the of other sheet metal. otherconditions to be hereinafter set forth,

present -invention shown herein is more particularly adapted are nowcommonly provided with sliding doors, which are mounted to slide intothe bullrheads or walls of the car, thus being out of the way, andalmost concealed when open. For easy operation of these doors they arecommonly made to slide or roll very freely, by means of antifrictionrolls, or balls, or other devices. Being thus easilymoved they areliable to be slid hack and forth by the movements of the cars, eitherwhen standing on inclined tracks or when swinging around curves at highspeed. Hence the desirability of providing adequate means for latchingsuch doors either in their closed or open, or partly open positions,according to circumstances It is moreover desirable to have the latchmechanism simple, strong, easily applied, easily operated with certaintyand with the mechanism as .much concealed as possible, both forappearance, and to pre- `vent tampering. Moreover, the use of steel incar and door construction is greatly increasing; and it is desirable toemploy latch mechanism, which may be fitted to a solid wooden door ofthe older type, or to the more modern hollow door, made of steel To meetthese and is the object of the present invention.

The arrangements shown in Figs. l to 5 inclusive are more particularlyadapted for use upon steel doors, thedot-and-dash lines l() indicatingthe plates of steel which form the opposite sidewalls or shell of theboxlilre door 1l. That form of our latch mechanism which is preferredfor such doors is sup-ported by means of side plates 12 and 13, whichare applied to the outer sides of the plates 10,.as shown in Fig. 2, andare held together by suitable screws 14, preferably extending through.connecting posts 15,

which extend from the inner sides of the side plates through the sidewalls of the door, and serve as dowels for holding the lock platesfirmly in position upon the door, and in their porperly opposedregistering relation to each other. Some of these posts, or similarspecial posts, are, or may be, also utilized for supporting the latchcasing 16 in proper registering and operating relation to the othermechanism. lli/'hen so arexist in any Aparticular case.

ranged as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the latch frames or casings 16are provided with openings, which fit upon one or more of these posts,according to circumstances. In the present instance the frames 16 areprovided with projecting bosses 17, which are bored to register withfo-ur of the posts 15. Thus the latch casings are firmly supported uponthe side plates 12 and 13, independently of the door structure itself.In the ordinary practice, these latch frames or casings are seated inmortises made in the edge of the door, making it dificult for theworkmen to bring them initially into suitable registering rela-tion tothe door, and to retain them in that position after the door has warpedor shrunk, or otherwise changed its original form. Moreover, in the caseof hollow steel doors, there is generally no interior substance in whichsuch a mortise can be made; and if such pins or abutments were to beprovided for securing the latch casing to the door, independently of theouter side plates, the same diliiculties would be encountered in greateror less degree, of initially placing and afterward maintaining the lockmechanism in proper working relation with the outside operating knobs-or handles. This construction and arrangement enables the lock maker,in the manufacture of the locks, to provide with certainty fori theproper setting up of the entire lock mechanism upon the doors, thusenabling him to depend upon his own workmen and processes, instead ofrelying upon the skill or accuracy Iof whatever workmen may be employedby others, to build or assemble the doors and lock mechanism.Furthermore, this construction and arrangement permits the l'atchmechanism to be slid upon its supporting posts to any desired positionrelative to the thickness of the door, in which position it may be heldby means of any suitable pins or screws. In the present instance, thesidewise position of the lock, relative to the thickness of the door, isdetermined by hubs or washers 18, either loose or appurtenant to thelock frame, or to the side plates, as may be found most convenient.

The mechanism contained within the latch casing 16 is or should bemodified or adapted to the various conditions which may In thearrangement shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, that mechanism consists of vatumbler 20, which is mounted upon and carried by the operating spindle21, which extends out through the side of the casing, and has upon oneor both of its ends suitable operating handles. In this case, twohandles 22 are shown, one upon each side of the door. These handles aresquared or otherwise secured upon the spindle 21, to turn therewith.Where, as herein shown, two of these handles are employed upon oppositesides of the door, their outer or swinging ends are provided with meansfor coupling them together, and for sustaining them against a pullingaction outwardly from the door, which action might sometime occurthrough accident or inadvertence. Each handle is herein shown to beprovided with a sustaining lip 23, projecting behind a sustaining lugo-r plate 24 of the side plates 12 and 13, and are also shown to beprovided with an offset or cranked coupling rod 25, the shoulders oroffsets 26 of which project behind the plates 12 and 13. rPhe ends ofthese coupling rods may be secured to the handles 22 in any convenientway, as by pins 27. On account ofthe necessary swinging movement of thehandles 22, the side plates 12 and 13 and the adjacent portions of theplates l0 of the door must be slotted; and to cover the portions of theslots which would otherwise be exposed by the swinging movement, theshields 28 are provided, to avoid leaving openings directly through thedoor, which Vmight permit the entrance of dust, or rain, or

snow, or allow anyone to look through the opening at certain positionsof the door. Most of the features just described are shown, describedand claimed in our prior Patent No. 720,349 of Feb. 10, 1903, and theprior patent to F. E. Howard No. 945,540, of Jan. 4, 1909.

In our aforesaid prior patents, as in the present instance, the handlescorresponding to the handles 22 are employed for a twofold function. Byits swinging movement it serves to unlatch the door from its closedposition, after which it serves as a handle or knob for opening thedoor. In the present invention, these movements and functions areretained; but in addition thereto the handles are utilized forperforming the additional functions, lirst of unlatching the door from apartly or wholly open position, to close the door; and secondly, as anincident to this double service, the handle is preferably held when outof operation in an intermediate or neutral relation to the two latches,as is best shown in Fig. 3. In each Vposition of the handle either thelatch for holding the door open, or the latch for holding the doorclosed, may be operated without moving or disturbing the handle; and inaddition thereto, by locking the handle in this intermediate position,the latch mechanism is put into such a condition that if latched ineither position it will remain latched; or if locked when the door isbetween its latching positions it will remain locked in whicheverposition it may neXt become latched, as will be hereinafter more fulldescribed.

wo latches 30 and 31 are employed, for the closed and open position,respectively, of the door. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 3,7theselatches are both contained within the casing 16, being pivoted upon thepin 32, and resting upon the stops 33. These latches project in oppositedirections from the pivot 32, and. rest at 34 and 35, respectively, uponthe operating portions of the tumbler 20. Springs 36 bear independentlyupon these latches so that either may rise and fall without interferingwith the other, these springs being of suitable size and tension foroperating their respective latches. An improved `means for fastening thesprings in position consists in forming an angular bend at theirattaching ends, and slipping those ends into a corner of the casing,behind, and partly surrounding the hubs or bosses 37. Thus when the sideplates of the casing 16 are screwed together, the springs are confinedagainst sidewise movement while permitting them to bend freely in therequired directions, without requiring any screws or othereXtraneousfastenings.

The tumbler 20 is shown in Fig. 3 to be held in its central or neutralposition, in which it is inoperative as to either of the latches 30 and31. An arm. 40 of the tumbler engages between two spring pressedplungers 41, which are mounted in opposing relation to each other uponopposite sides of the arm 40. Each plunger is provided with a spring 42,engaging upon a shoulder of the plunger and a iXed ear or abutment 43apurtenant to or integral with the casing 16.

he position of these plungers so as to hold the arm 40, and hence thetumbler 20, in its central or neutral position, is adjusted by means ofthe nuts 44, which also serv@ as stops for the spring pressed movementsof the plungers 41. Thus the operating movement of raising either of thelatches 30 or 31 by means of either handle 22, is resisted by one of thelsprings 36, and by one of the spring pressed plungers 41 acting uponthe latch and the tumbler 20, respectively, thus enabling the springs toact together in resisting operating movement by means of the handle,while enabling each spring to act independently upon one of the latchesand the tumbler 20. This arrangement enables the tumbler to be returnedto its central position, independently of either or both of the latches,and also enables either latch to be held down by its own springpressure, independently of each other and of the tumbler. The plungersprings 42 are made of suitable size and tension to control the'tuinblerand its operating handles, so as to hold them with suitable firmness intheir central or neutral position shown in Fig. 3, independently of thesprings 36, the action of which is limited to yieldingly holding theirrespectiva` latches 30; and 31 downwardly Y against their respectivestops 33. Thus the raising of either of these latches 30 or 31 in ridingover its keeper does not affect the position of the tumbler device or ofits operating handles. This arrangement allows either latch to be raisedfrom its stop even when the tumbler and its operating handles are lockedin their central neutral position, which is sometimes desirable.

The latch 30 for latching the door in its closed position coacts with astriker plate 46, fixed to the casing of the door. The latch 31, forholding the door in its wholly or partly open position coacts with thestriker plate 47 ,-which in the arrangement shown in Figs. 3 and 4consists oit' a hinged bar 47 attached near its hinged end tothebulkhead 49 at the end of the runway into which the door slides, andprojects through the rearward edge 48 of the door, so that when the dooris in the opened position into which it is desired to latch it, the bar47 reaches to and is engaged by the latch 31. The bar 47 is preferablyhinged at 50 to allow of slight Vertical swinging movement, forconvenience in assemblingand adjusting the door parts, so as to avoidthe necessity of eXtreme accuracy in locating the respective parts. As ameans for supporting and guiding the end of the striker bar 47, a ledgeor shoulder 51 is provided on the door, at a height suitable for guidingthe end of the bar into proper engaging relation to the latch 31. Thusthe latch and the ledge, being both carried by the door, continue toguide the end of the bar properly in spite of any set tling or othershifting that may occur between the door and the casing.

The striker bar 47 is herein shown to be hinged to the casing by meansof a lug or bracket 54, which passes through the wall 49 of thebulkhead, and is secured thereto by means of a nut 55 and washers 56,which are disposed upon one side or the other of the wall 49, as may berequired for the desired adjustment of the bar relative to the latch 31.

Under some circumstances it may be found preferable to employ the formof adjustment shown in Fig. 10, in which the bar 47 is hinged at 56 tothe hinged stud 57, which extends through the wall 49 of the bulkhead,or any other convenient support, and is provided on the rearward side ofthat bulkhead or support with a nut 58, by means of which the stud 57may be adjusted4 endwise with or against the pressure of a spring 59,which spring not only coacts with the nut 58 in adjusting the strikerbar 57, to the desired endwise position, but also serves as a buffer forthe bar, in which case the striker bar 47 may be allowed to abut againsta suitable stop in the door or in the lock casing.

lt is well-known that in the railway servicefor which the presentinvention is intended, all devices, especially those includingarticulated mechanism, are particularly liable to abuse, and injury,either from malice, or ignorance, or both, on the part of both theemployees and the public. Hence the common reference to the necessityfor making such apparatus fool proof. Many of the features of thepresent invention are designed with particular reference to theavoidance of such injuries or abuses. This is particularly true of thearrangement by which the operative mechanism is as 'far as possiblecontained and concealed inside of the door and casing, out of sight andout of reach of mischievous or unskilful hands, leaving only oneoperating handle exposed to sight and action on each side of the door;and also arranging the apparatus so that it will release the doorautomatically when that handle is moved in whichever direction theoperator may desire to move the door. Another important feature of thepsresent invention is that whereby the latch mechanism may be securelylocked in a neutral position against being operated by the handle whileleaving both the latches free to be raised by their respective strikersto latch, but not to unlatch them. This arrangement is best illustratedin Fig. 3, in which the bolt 61 operated in any well-known way by a key,or otherwise, is provided *with a notch 62, which fits over the couplingrod 25 when in the position shown in Fig. 3, thus locking the handles 22and the tumbler 20 against operating movement; but leaving the latches30 and 31 free to be lifted from within against the pressure of theirrespective springs 36. If the mechanism should thus be locked whileeither of those latches is in latching engagement with the strikerplate, the door will remain thus latched, there being no way to releaseit, except by unlocking the bolt 61, and thus allowing the handles 22 tobe swung. But it is quite possible that the bolt 61 may be moved downand the latch mechanism thus locked while it is somewhere between thestriker plates 46 and 47, and not in engagement with either of them.When this happens, it is only necessary to move the door in thedirection desired, open, or shut, whereupon the appropriate latch willride over and properly engage with its striker plate, without any injuryto the latch mechanism. In addition to thus locking the handle in itscentral or neutral position, it may if desired be locked at either sideof that position by sliding the bolt 61 down at the right or left sideof the ycoupling rod 25, thus holding either of the latches retractedwhile prevent-- ing retraction of the other latch.

In Fig. 5 is shown an arrangement in which the latches 65 and 66,instead of being mounted in the same latch casing, adjacent tothe frontedge of the door, as in .which the door slides.

the previous figures, aremounted. in separate casings, at the oppositeedges of the door, thus practically extending the latch mechanisminstead of extending the striker bar, as in the previous figures, tomeet that latch mechanism. Hence, in this instance, the short strikerplate or keeper 67 may be employed and attached to the wall or bulkhead68 at the back end of the runway, into The latch 66 1n this instance maybe similar to the latch 31, and be similarly mounted upon a pivot pin inthe latch casing 69 adjacent to the rearward edge or style of the door.A single armed tumbler 70 mounted upon the pivot stud 71 of the casingis provided with a spring pressed plunger 72, which in al1 respects maybe like one of the plungers 41, shown in Fig. 3, and may operate inconjunction. with a similar plunger and tumbler 7 5, adjacent to and inthe casing with the latch 65, the two tumblers being connected by a rod74 to hold those tumblers and the handle 73 in a central or neutralposition, in the same way and for the same purposes as thosehereinbefore described. This arrangement and connection thereforeconstitutes practically a single tumbler for all practical purposes likethe tumbler 20 of Fig. 3, the term tumbler where employed in thesingular in the following claims being intended to apply to thisarrangement.

lIn Figs. 6, 7 and 8 is shown a further modiication of the invention,more particularly adapted for use in connection with wooden doors, or inany other circumstances in which it. may be found unobjectionable andperhaps advisable to place the rearward or open holding latch'upon theoutside of the door instead of having it within the door, as in theinstances heretofore described. In this case, a. latch 1 7 7 V'andsingle arm tumbler 78 are supported in the casing 79. That casing may bemortised in to 110 the edge of a wooden door, or may be screwed orriveted to the edge of a sheet metal door, or it may be provided withbosses like the bosses 17 supported on posts like the posts 15, as shownin Figs. 2 and 115 3. A squared operating spindle 80, which carries thetumbler 78 extends through the casing 79 and through a` supplementalcasing 81, in which is mounted another single arm tumbler 82, alsocarried by the spindle 120 80. The latch 83 for the rearward position ofthe door is also mounted in the supplemental casing 81, above thetumbler 82, and engages with the striker plate or keeper 84 attached, inthis instance, at the side of the 125 runway, to the door jamb or casingl85. The spindle 80, carrying the tumblers 78 and 82, extends throughoneor both Ysides of the door far enough to carryfoner or two handles,as may be desired. Y

recipes n this modification of the mechanism no provision 1s made for aneutral position of the handle or tumblers, one or the other of thetumblersV and latches being always raised when the door handle is leftin either i a roller 87 mounted upon a swinging arm 88 pivoted at 89 toone `or both of the side plates 90, on in any other convenient way. Aspring 91 is adapted to press the arm 88 and the roller 87 downwardlyagainst the coupling rod 92, and upon'one side or the other of that rod,according as it is desired to leave one or the other of the latches 77and 83 in latching position, the two positions of the coupling rod 92relative to the roller 87 being shown in Fig. 6'. Thus in operating thehandle 93 it is turned in the direction of the desired movement of thedoor, thereby raising the roller 87 against pressure of its spring 91,until the handle reaches its other extreme position, whereupon theroller is pressed down on `the opposite side of the coupling rod 92.

In Fig. 9 is shown a modi-tied construc- .tion of the mechanism shown inFigs. 6, 7

and 8. In this modification, the latches 95 and 96 and their tumbler 97,which may be in two separate pieces, or be a double-acting single piece,are mounted within the single casing 98. In' this instance also there isno neutral position of the mechanism, one or the other of the latchesbeing always raised when the handle is in neither oi its restingpositions.

Having thus shown and described the invention with a few leadingmodifications, it will be obvious to those skilled in this art that theinvention may be still further modied and adapted in various ways, tosuit different conditions or requirements.

We claim as our invention V l. The combination with a door,- ofreversely disposed latches, keepers for the latches, means independentof the keepers for stopping the latches at their closedposition,atumbler coperating with said latches, an operating handle, andconnecting means between the tumbler and said handle, whereby thelatches are independently operated by movement of said handle.

2. lThe combination, with a door, of reversely disposed latches, keepersfor the latches, a handle and connecting means for operating saidlatches independently of each other, and a yielding devicefor'automatically positioning the said handle when released.

3. A door, reversely disposed latches pivotallysupported on the door forindependent movement, keepers for the latches, a tumbler and a doorhandle for operating said tumbler to raise the latches independently ofeach other.

Il. In a door latch, in combination, a torwardly projecting springactuated latching element, a rearwardly projecting spring actuatedlatching element, such two elements being independently movable, anoscillatable spindle having a handle fixed thereto and adapted toretract such latching elements respectively, when moved in oppositedirections;

5. A door, separate latches pivotally mounted for independent movementon the door, separate stops and separate keepers for the latches, and adoor handle with connections for operating the latches independently ofeach other to disengage them separately from their respective keepers.

6. The combination, in door latch mechanism, of reversely disposedspring actuated latches. an oscillatable spindle for retracting the saidlatches, independently operating Vmeans for said spindle, and meansmovable to engagement with said operating means for locking the spindlein its neutral position between its latch retracting position.

7. The combination, with a door, of a plurality of separate reverselydisposed latches pivotally mounted on coincident axes, keepers for thelatches, a handle mounted for swinging movement on an axis adjacent tothe coincident axes of the latches, and connecting means including armsfor raising the said latches independently of each other by swingingmovements of the said handle in opposite directions.

8. The combination, in door latch mechanisms, of reversely disposedspring actuated latches and keepers, an oscillatable spindle forretracting the said latches independently, a handle for operating saidspindle and locking means independent of said handle and operated bymovement of the handle for retaining the spindle at either of thepositions at which the respective latches are retracted.

9. The combination, with a door, of latch 110 mechanism, including aplurality of reversely disposed latches and their keepers, an operatinghandle supported on the door for swinging movement, connecting meansbetween the handle and the said latches for 115 operating themseparately by the swinging movements of the handle in diderentdirections, and a spring operated device for opposing the swingingmovements of the handle.

10. The combination, with a door, of latch mechanism, including aplurality of reversely disposed latches and their keepers, an operatinghandle supported on the door for swinging movement, connecting 125 meansbetween the handle and the said latches for operating them separately bythe swinging movements of the handle in different directions, andopposed spring mechanism for yieldingly holding the said handle 130 inpredetermined position by the approximate balancing of the opposedspring mechanism, including stop devices for the said position.

11. The combination, with a door, of latch mechanism, including aplurality of reversely disposed latches and their keepers, an operatinghandle supported on the door for swinging movement, connecting meansbetween the handle and the said latches -for operating them separatelyby the swinging movements of the handle in different directions, alocking `bolt for the handle and spring mechanism for yieldingly holdingthe said handle in a cooperative relation to the bolt.

12. The combination, with a door, of latch mechanism, including aplurality of latches and their keepers, an operating yhandle mounted forswinging movement on the door, connections between the said handle andthe latches, for operating the latches independently by swingingmovement of the handle in opposite directions, a locking bolt forlocking the handle in its neutral position and spring mechanism foryieldingly holding the said handle in its said neutral position relativeto the latches and in cooperative relation to the bolt.

13. The combination, with a door, of latch mechanism for latching thedoor in dilierent positions, including separate latches mounted forindependent swinging movement, spring devices acting independently oneach latch, keepers for the latches, means independently of the keepersfor stoppingr the latches at their latching positions, an operatinghandle mounted for swinging movement on the door, and connecting means,including a tumbler, between the operating handle and the latches,whereby the latter are independently operated by swinging the handle inopposite directions.

14. The combination, with a door, of latch mechanism for holding thedoor in different positions against movement in opposite directions,including a plurality of reversely disposed latches and keepers, stopsfor the respective latches, an operating handle mounted for swingingmovement in the two directions of movement of the door, and connectingmeans between the said handle and the said latches whereby the handlewhen moved in the direction of closing movement of the door, disengagesand operates only the latch which would otherwise prevent that closingmovement leaving the other latch in position for engaging with itskeeper.

15. The combination, with a door, of latch mechanism for holding thedoor against opening and closing movement, including reversely disposedspring actuated latches, an operating handle mounted for swingingmovement in the two directions of the opening and closing movements ofthe door, an

operating connection between the handle and each of the said latches,and means for limiting the swinging movements of the handle toapproximately the amount required to disengage the respective latches,whereby the handle serves (by its limited movement to disengage thelatch which would prevent movement of the door in the desired direction,and then serves as a handle for moving the door in that direction.

16. The combination, with a door, of separate latches for latching thedoor against opening and closing movement, keepers for the said latches,springs for the latches, stops for supporting the respective latches inengaging relation to their respective keepers, an operating handlemounted on the door for swinging movement parallel with the door and inthe general direction of opening and closing movement of the door,operating connections between the swinging handle and the respectivelatches, whereby either latch' may be raised while retaining the otherlatch in its normal latching position and means for locking theoperating handle at either end of its latch operating movement, or inits intermediate neutral position.

17: The combination, in door mechanism,

of a plurality of reversely disposed latches and their keepers, andoperating means therefor, including a handle and a tumbler mounted forswinging movement, the tumbler being provided with arms engaging withthe said latches, to disengage them separately from their respectivekeepers and means for locking the tumbler in neutral non-operatingrelation to the latches.

A 18. The combination, in latch mechanism, of a plurality of separatelatches and their keepers mounted for independent operation, independentsprings and stops for the latches, a tumble-r having oppositely disposedarms for engaging wit the respective latches to separately disengagethem from their keepers by opposite swinging movements of the tumbler,and means including spring pressed plungers for yieldingly holding thetumbler in predetermined neutral position when not being operated.

19. The combination, in latch mechanism, of a plurality of separatelatches and their keepers mounted for independent operation, separatesprings for the latches, a tumbler having oppositely disposed arms forengaging with the respective latches to separately disengage them fromtheir keepers by opposite swinging movements of the tumbler, and springdevices including springs stronger than the said latch springs foryieldingly holding the tumbler in a neutral inoperative positionrelative to the latches when not being operated.

20. The combination, in latch mechanism, of a plurality of latchesmounted for indeneem/ee' ig pendent operation, a tumbler for engagingwith the respective latches to operate them independently, and opposingspring pressed plungers engaging with the tumbler to hold it in aneutral inoperative position relative to the latches;

21. rlhe combination, inV latch mechanism, of a plurality of latchesmounted for independent operation, a tumbler for engaging with therespective latches to operate them independent-ly, opposing springpressed plungers engaging with the tumbler to hold it in a neutralinoperative position relative to the latches, and stop devices for thesaid yplungers for determining the said neutral position.

22. rlhe combination, in latch mechanism, of a plurality of latchesmounted for independent operation, a. tumbler for engaging with therespective latches to operate them independently, opposing springpressed plungers engaging with the tumbler to hold it in a neutralinoperative position relative to the latches, and adjustable stopdevices for the plungers for varying the said neutral position.

23. The combination, in latch mechanism, or a plurality of separatelatches mounted for independent operation, tumbler mechanism engagingwith the said latches to operate them separately and independently ofeach other, and means for yieldingly holding the tumbler in a neutralinoperative relation to the two latches, including an arm projectingfrom the tumbler, and spring pressed plungers bearing against oppositesides of the said arm in opposed relation to each other.

24. The combination, in latch mechanism, of a plurality of reverselydisposed separate latches independently mounted on the same axis, atumbler mounted for swinging movement upon an axis adjacent to that ofthe latches and having arms bearing against the respective latches tolift them separately from their respective latching positions, springpressed plungers bearing against the said tumbler in opposed relation:tor holding the tumbler yieldingly in its neutral position relative tothe latches and means for locking the tumblers immovably in said neutralposition.

25. The combination with a sliding door, of latch mechanism 'for theclosed position of the door, a latch for an open position of the door,and a keeper for the said latch mounted on the door casing for yieldingmovement in the direction of the opening movement of the door, wherebyit serves to cushion the force of the latching movement.

26. The combination, with a sliding door, oit' latch mechanism for theclosed position of the door, a latch for an open position of the door,and a keeper for the said latch supported by the door casing by yieldingmeans, including a spring bud'enyielding in the direction of openingmovement of the door.

27. The combination, with a sliding door, oi latch mechanism for theclosed position of the door, a latch for the open position of the door,and a keeper for the said latch attached to the door casing with ayielding attachment iorming a spring buffer for the reeper yielding inthe direction of opening movement of the door, the keeper being extendedinto the door through its rearward edge.

28. The combination, with a sliding door, oi a latch for an openposition of the door, and a keeper for the said latch supported by thecasing, and means for adjusting the keeper lengthwise of the plane ofthe door.

29. The combination, with a sliding door, of a latch for an openposition of the door, a keeper for the said latch supported by the doorcasing by means of an elastic and adjustable connection, including aspring serving as a buffer for the opening movement ci the door, and ascrew-threaded device for adjusting the keeper against the pressure cithe said spring.

30. rElie combination, with a sliding door, of a latch for an openposition of the door, a keeper pivotally supported by the door casingand extending into the door through its rearward edge, the keeper beingprovided with a yielding spring buffer and with means for adjusting thekeeper lengthwise against the pressure of the spring.

3l. The combination, with a. sliding door, of a latch for an openposition of the door, a keeper pivotallyn supported by the door casingand extending into the door through its rearward edge, a yieldingsupporting connection between the keeper and the door casing, means foradjusting the keeper against the pressure of the said spring, and aguide appurtenant to the door for guiding the latching end of thekeeper.

32. The combination, with a hollow door, provided with aperturesdisposed in the opposite sides of the shell of the door, side platesprovided with posts projecting through the said apertures, and a latchcasing disposed within the door and supported upon the inwardlyprojecting ends of said posts.

33. The combination, with a hollow door, provided with aperturesdisposed in the opposite sides of the shell of the door, latch mechanismmounted in a separate casing and having apertures registering with theapertures in said door shell and a pair of side plates for oppositesides of the door, provided with posts projecting through the saidapertures in the shell and in the said casing.

Se. The combination, with a hollow door, provided with aperturesdisposed opposite to each other in the opposite sides of the shell ofthe door, side plates provided with posts projecting through the saidapertures toward and in substantial alinement with each other, and alatch casing disposed within the door and supported upon the inwardlyprojecting ends of said posts.

35. The combination, in latch mechanism, of side plates for oppositeouter sides of a door, provided with a plurality of oppositely disposedinwardly projecting posts, operating handles mounted on the outer sidesof said plates, latch mechanism operatively connected with the saidhandles, and a casing for said mechanism slidably mounted Within thedoor on the said posts. 36. The combination, in latch mechanism,

of side plates for opposite outer sides of a door, provided with postsprojecting inwardly toward each other, screws seated in said posts fordrawing the side plates together, and a casing for latch mechanismsupported within the door and between the said plates by being slidablymounted on said posts.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK E. HOWARD. CHARLES l?. HOWARD.

Vitnesses:

CAROLINE M. BRECKLE, JOSEPH MERRITT;

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, ID. C.

